Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Book alleges plot to kill JFK in Tampa, cover-up", "At Santo Trafficante auction, a chance to buy a piece of Tampa's mob history", Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Associated Press report on Trafficante's death, "Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" By Robert Lacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Trafficante_Jr.&oldid=1140940042, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Our thoughts and prayers with you. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central, Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. "The Mob? One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial.
Tampa Mafia Tour - Tampa Mafia She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. Indeed, he owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreclosures to local banks, which he says treat him "like I had leprosy" because of Key Bank. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. During the rule of Cuba's authoritarian dictator Fulgencio Batista, Trafficante openly operated the Sans Souci Cabaret and the Casino International gambling establishments in Havana. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. Try again. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. While the senior Trafficante had been a major mobster in his own right, nobody could have expected the heights that were going to be reached by his son. This browser does not support getting your location. He headed the Trafficante crime family and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. "[1][13] He stated that he was positive that he did not say it because he always spoke to Aleman in Spanish, and said that there was no way to state the phrase in Spanish. Fine food, and lots of it. [14] He stated that he was concerned for his safety and was not certain that he had ever correctly heard or understood Trafficante's comment. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. ", Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Tampa man arrested in death of person found in apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, Suspect in Hillsborough slaying of woman IDd, man known as Ya Dig, deputies say, After nearly a century of fixing Tampas flat tires, downtown Firestone closes, Under investigation, HART CEO proposes settlement, payout and exit, Dead body found in Hillsborough apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, NAACP wants reparations for Tampas Black cemeteries that governments stole, Latin Kings gang leaders among 21 arrested in Hillsborough drug operation, sheriff says, Estimated 630,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Hillsborough River, records show, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. It was all on the up and up. The seeds for Trafficantes most interesting historical chapter were planted, as the mobster would go on to have a well-established relationship with the CIA in an ongoing effort to assassinate Castro. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. Please try again later. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. He was known as an organized crimes figure. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. The Trafficante family formed a strong alliance with the Batista government in Cuba and profited from their investments, although they never achieved the goal of dominating gambling on the island. U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate that law enforcement believed Trafficante's legitimate business interests to include several legal casinos in Cuba; a Havana drive-in movie theater; and shares in several restaurants and bars in Trafficante's hometown of Tampa, Florida. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned.
A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. "My wife's got money. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. [9][10] The CIA and the Mafia had a common enemy in Castro, a communist revolutionary who had shut down Cuba's lucrative casino businesses. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. Published: March 15th, 2017 - By Scott M. Deitche, Contributing Writer, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17, El Chapos lawyers complain about strict rules at New York prison. "I thought I could just go down to (former Hillsborough State Attorney) Bill James and (Assistant State Attorney) Lee Atkinson and explain it all away in 15 minutes.". Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. please know that i am praying for you and your family. "Banks are my greatest enemy. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. In the 1950s, Tampas reputation for corruption and vice was so bad it prompted one national magazine to label the area the Hell Hole of the Gulf Coast. Given such negativity, who can blame people for just wanting to forget? Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. His business ventures have not always been successful.
We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. Robert F. Kennedy even taunted those mobsters he brought into court, telling Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana that I thought only little girls giggled, Mr. Giancana.. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub.
santo trafficante daughters - shantisrl.com The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. At Boxer Cycle Works. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . Trafficante was jailed and deported when Fidel Castro rose to power, leading him to spend a good portion of his adult life hatching a plan of revenge. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? At 76,. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. ). He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. He was again called to testify in April 1976 on the alleged conspiracy to kill Kennedy, but Rosselli never made it: His body was found in a barrel floating in Biscayne Bay off the coast of Florida. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. He was accused of making false financial statements for loans he used to invest in his citrus business, to purchase luxury cars and to buy a beach condo. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-law's Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. There was an error deleting this problem. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. Failed to remove flower. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world.
REPUTED FLORIDA GODFATHER TRAFFICANTE, 72, DIES - Sun Sentinel Oops, something didn't work. His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in Scarface, or the heyday of Miami Vice. My prayers are with all of you. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Trafficante admitted his anti-Castro activities to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978, and vehemently denied allegations that he had knowledge of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. love gloria "owens" hill. And all this occurred throughout seven Sylvia at age 12 and her father Jimmy Velasco in California, June 1948 Jimmy Velasco was a political fixer. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. GREAT NEWS! After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.".
Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Zeng8r/Wikimedia Common A set of bolita balls. Trafficante proceeded to open casinos in Cuba at his fathers behest and facilitated heroin smuggling by working together with famous mobsters Charles Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Please reset your password. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph.
Sam Giancana - Wikipedia Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. But he was also the most powerful crime boss in pre-Castro Cuba, with influence that extended into Florida and the rest of the United States. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. Year should not be greater than current year.
Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. [14], The HSCA had previously quoted Aleman as stating that he thought Trafficante's use of the phrase "he is going to be hit" meant that the mob boss knew Kennedy was going to be killed. By the time Prohibition and the Era of Blood ended, he was the top man in the Florida Mafia, operating with the blessing of exiled Mob boss Charlie Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello of the Five Families, and Meyer Lansky of the national Syndicate. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Seven people were murdered. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. Let others know about your loved one's death. She is now living in Virginia. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor.
Santo Trafficante Jr - Mafia Facts Fifteen years following the assassination, Trafficante testified in front of the United States House Select Committee on the murder of JFK in exchange for immunity. Some people also alleged that Trafficante Jr played a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy due to his anti-organized crime efforts, but Trafficante Jr. always denied it. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. His health had declined in his later years. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Consequently, while generally recognized as the most powerful organized crime figure in Florida throughout much of the 20th century, Trafficante was not believed to have total control over Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. TAMPA The daughter sits on the front porch of a little bungalow in Seminole Heights, her new home since her husband died a few months ago down south. Add to your scrapbook. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. When he applied to the state for a parimutuel license that would allow him to race his horses at Tampa Bay Downs, he was refused. [11], In 1976, Cuban exile and FBI informant Jose Aleman told The Washington Post that in September 1962, Trafficante had offered him a loan of $1.5million to replace Aleman's three-story "ramshackle motel with a 12-story glass wonder. She was born on March 24, 1920. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. RIP Santo. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida.
Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. Try again later. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution toppled the corrupt Batista government and the rebel leader, Fidel Castro, nationalized foreign-owned properties and shuttered the casinos, a huge financial blow to Trafficante, who was second only to Meyer Lansky in the depth of his investments in Havana. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Trafficante was one of the last surviving members of the original Luciano mob era upon his death, and the truth behind the JFK assassination may have perhaps died with him. [14], After a grant of immunity from prosecution, Trafficante testified before the HSCA the following day, September 28, and denied the allegation that he told Aleman that "Kennedy was going to be hit. The east coast of Florida was a loosely knit conglomerate of New York family interests with links to Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Angelo Bruno, Carlos Marcello, and Frank Ragano. Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Weve updated the security on the site. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). [18] According to Ragano, he met Hoffa at the Teamsters' headquarters in Washington, DC, then delivered the message to Trafficante and Marcello in a meeting at the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Mobster dies, two nations. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. Geni requires JavaScript! Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. . While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. My heart goes out to the family. The email does not appear to be a valid email address.
Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed.
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